Hon. Nobert Mao, the leader of the Democratic Party, has petitioned the Clerk to Parliament requesting a delay in the induction of members of the 12th Parliament until after the election of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker. Mao raised concerns that proceeding with the induction before the election could lead to distractions from its intended objectives. He emphasized that the 12th Parliament can only be considered fully constituted once the Speaker and Deputy Speaker have been elected.
In his petition, Mao also questioned the motivations behind the outgoing Speaker’s decision to select her loyalists from the political class as the primary presenters during the induction. Mao suggested that this might influence the proceedings and undermine the fairness and transparency of the process.
Mao’s petition has drawn attention to potential disruptions in the Parliament’s operations as it begins its new term. The delay, if granted, would ensure that the induction focuses solely on the necessary tasks of introducing new members to the parliamentary processes and not on political maneuvers.
